Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company: Policy investment for key areas

(Baonghean) - In preparation for the 2017 - 2018 sugarcane production season, the Company has had many policies to support sugarcane growers.

Care of raw material areas

At this time, after many months of farmers concentrating on harvesting raw sugarcane to sell to sugarcane factories, in Tan Ky district, it is in the germination stage. In the last crushing season, sugarcane growers in Tan Ky were quite excited because the sugarcane factory purchased quickly, and the purchase price was also higher than last year.

Provincial leaders visit high-yield sugarcane growing model in Tan Xuan commune (Tan Ky). Photo: Xuan Hoang

At the sugarcane field planted according to the new process of Giai Xuan commune, old farmer Nguyen Van Cong, in Van Long hamlet, said: My family has grown sugarcane and has been attached to Song Con Sugar Factory for many years. "This year, the factory has invested in and supported the new sugarcane intensive cultivation process, combined with planting new sugarcane varieties, so the family is excited to implement it. The sugarcane variety that has just been put into cultivation is NK 9211. The agricultural staff has guided the new planting process: the land is plowed deeply, planted in double rows, and fertilized with appropriate fertilizers. On this 1 hectare of sugarcane, the family has applied 2 tons of bio-fertilizer, 1.5 tons of NPK, nearly 2 tons of lime powder, 6 tons of sugarcane sludge and used 10 tons of sugarcane seeds. Initial results show that the sugarcane has sprouted evenly, and there have been no signs of pests or diseases; because of the double rows, the rows are sparse, so the family will intercrop beans in the future, increasing income per unit area. The sugarcane yield is expected to reach over 80 tons/ha, while previously the sugarcane yield here was only nearly 60 tons/ha.

With the factory's policies on investment and stable purchasing, we ensure that sugarcane growers make a profit. Therefore, we farmers determine that sugarcane is the most stable crop on this land.

Raw material station No. 1 in Giai Xuan commune has 12 staff, in charge of sugarcane raw material areas of the communes: Giai Xuan, Tan Xuan, Nghia Hoan, Nghia Thai, Tan Long and Tan Phu (Tan Ky).

Mr. Nguyen Trong Truong - agricultural officer said: At this time, sugarcane is in the germination stage, agricultural officers are actively measuring specifically to grasp the sugarcane area of ​​each family and locality. At the same time, they guide farmers to plow and fertilize sugarcane, combined with pest control. At this time, sugarcane has not had any significant pests or diseases, in general, farmers actively take care of sugarcane according to the instructions of agricultural officers.

A field of new sugarcane varieties, grown according to new processes in Giai Xuan commune (Tan Ky). Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Nguyen Ba Quy - Deputy Director of Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company said: In the 2016 - 2017 crushing season, the company's sugarcane raw material area was only over 5,000 hectares, the average sugarcane yield reached 42 tons/ha, sugarcane output reached 330,000 tons, therefore, the crushing time was shortened to 5 months (from November of the previous year to March of the following year. Last year, the crushing season ended at the end of April). However, due to the increase in domestic sugar prices at the end of the season, the company increased the sugarcane purchase price for farmers from 900,000 VND to 970,000 VND/ton in the following months of the crushing season.

Strengthening raw material assurance policy

To prepare raw materials for the 2017-2018 crushing season, Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company is focusing on investing in mechanized equipment, high-capacity machinery and equipment, applying synchronous irrigation measures for sugarcane, using many types of fertilizers and increasing the amount of organic fertilizer to supplement nutrients for the soil. In addition, the Company supplies new varieties suitable for the soil conditions of each locality; renovating fields and intensive cultivation, associated with expanding the high-yield sugarcane growing model.

This year the Company has many policies to support sugarcane growers, especially for high-yield sugarcane intensive cultivation areas, planting new sugarcane varieties. This year the Company plans to plant 3,200 hectares of new sugarcane, up to this point farmers have planted more than 2,500 hectares, many localities have planted large areas, of which Giai Xuan commune has planted the most, with 550 hectares, Song Con Agricultural One Member Co., Ltd. planted 171 hectares...

Raw material area of ​​Song Con Sugar Factory in Tan Ky district. Photo: Chau Lan

The Company has selected 3 new sugarcane varieties for planting this year, including: Viet Duong 93159, NK 9211, Khonkean 2, Khonkean 3. The Company implements a support policy: for 1 hectare of new planting, sugarcane growers are supported with 6 tons of treated sugarcane sludge, 100% loan for seed purchase and land preparation. In addition, the Company also has a policy for key sugarcane growing communes such as: Tan Xuan, Giai Xuan, Tan Hop, Nghia Dong, Nghia Hop, Nghia Phuc... and other special areas, which is to provide loans to buy plows; accordingly, households growing 6 hectares of sugarcane or more are given loans of 100 million VND, households growing 3 hectares or more are given loans of 50 million VND, households growing 2 hectares are given loans of 10 million VND. Currently, the Company has about 400 hectares of high-yield sugarcane and 30 intensive sugarcane farming models with an area of ​​0.5 hectares or more. With investment support policies, strive to achieve an average sugarcane yield of over 50 tons/ha in the next pressing season.

Developing stable raw material areas, overcoming limitations in implementing policies and mechanisms for sugarcane growers, Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company also coordinated to review the area for developing raw material areas in some localities. Thereby, avoiding the development of small, fragmented sugarcane areas that affect the investment costs of production as well as the transportation of raw sugarcane after harvest. Supporting good seed sources suitable for soil conditions; strengthening the system of agricultural staff to support techniques as well as care and pest control for sugarcane are key solutions to increase the productivity of the company's sugarcane in the following years.

Xuan Hoang